Warren Moon maintains that Newton jabs were 'racial'

Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon says he's not an "I-told-you-so'' guy, even if he has 854 reasons to trash talk about being right about Carolina Panthers rookie sensation Cam Newton, whom Moon advises and recommended strongly to the Panthers.

In his first two games, Newton has completed 62.7% of his passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions despite 0-2 Carolina's unproductive, 29th-ranked rushing game. He can become the first QB to open a season throwing for 400 yards in three consecutive games when the Panthers host the 1-1 Jaguars Sunday.

Moon staunchly defended Newton when critics maligned him as a one-read-and-run QB who had suspect accuracy and would struggle in decoding more exotic NFL blitz defenses.

"Some of the criticism was racial... I started to feel the same way I felt back in 1978 coming out of college when guys were saying I was too small and my arm wasn't strong enough. Some of the same type of blind criticism was being laid on Cam.''

Moon called Newton Tuesday to let him know how proud he is of the first overall pick for playing the poised, in-pocket quarterback his many detractors didn't think he was capable of.

"I feel proud of what he's doing and I don't have one of those, 'I-told-you-so-type attitudes,'' Moon said. "But I do know a little bit about that position and when you're around somebody who's special. I spent some time with (former No. 1 pick) JaMarcus Russell and all these different young guys.

"That shows he's fearless and he'll get better at learning the personnel. There was some unjust criticism that wasn't warranted,'' Moon said. "You started hearing that the kid doesn't have a great work ethic, but all of his coaches in college were saying he did. You heard people say he doesn't have leadership abilities. But he won two national championships as a quarterback (at Auburn and Blinn Junior College)."

So far, Newton has accounted for 71 of Carolina's 145 rushing yards as the Cardinals and Packers schemed to take away the run game and force Newton to beat them. Though he didn't succeed, he appears well on his way as arguably this season's biggest early surprise to many except Moon.

Even Panthers coach Ron Rivera has said Newton has exceeded expectations with his leadership, energizing play, hunger to win and playing within the framework of Rob Chudzinski's system that features two talented tight ends in Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey.

One thing Moon feels good about is Newton's chances of getting his breakthrough win against the Jaguars who may be ready to transition to rookie QB Blaine Gabbert after Luke McCown posted a microscopic 1.8 passer rating in Jacksonville's 32-3 blistering by the Jets.

"Sunday would be a great time for him to get to get his first win in front of the hometown crowd,'' Moon said. "Most people thought Auburn was going to be at best a .500 team. But when you have a guy like Cam at the most important position start to make plays the way he does…now all of a sudden everybody plays better because they know he gives them a chance to win.

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About Nate Davis

Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate